Dr. Bonnie Smith Whitehouse and Dr. Jason Lovvorn recently published a book chapter in collaboration with first author, Dr. Lauren Lunsford (Education). Their work, entitled “Online Discussion Boards in the Constructivist Classroom,” appeared in the recently released Exploring the Effectiveness of Online Education in K-12 Environments. Published by IGI Global, this collection considers the integration of technology into pedagogy. In the realm of technology and teaching, Dr. Lunsford and Dr. Lovvorn both earned the Online Learning Consortium’s Teaching Certificate, and Dr. Smith Whitehouse is a recent OLC Fellow at Belmont.

Dr. Jayme Yeo participated in the 2014 Summer Institute sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, entitled “Problems in the Study of Religion.” Hosted by the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, this institute introduced interdisciplinary scholars to theories of religion that have developed in recent years and featured daily discussions, round-tables, and scholarly talks. While there, Dr. Yeo presented in a round-table discussion on insider/outsider perspectives in the study of religion.

“Shakespeare on Page and Stage: Teaching and Staging Shakespeare in the 21st Century” was the topic of a panel discussion co-sponsored by Belmont’s Department of Theater and Dance, Department of English, and the Nashville Shakespeare Festival at Belmont’s Black Box Theater on August 24. As part of the “Shakespeare on the Road” project documenting selected Shakespeare festivals in the U.S., the panel discussion featured project scholars Dr. Paul Edmondson (Head of Research and Knowledge, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, England) and Dr. Paul Prescott (English Department, University of Warwick, England). Belmont participants included Dr. James Al-Shamma, Assistant Professor in Theater and Dance; Dr. Marcia McDonald, panel moderator, Professor of English; Ms. Misty Ayers-Miranda, English faculty at the Nashville School for the Arts (M.A. in English from Belmont, summer 2014). Other panelists were Dr. Mickey Wadia, Professor of English at APSU and Ms. Scottie Girgus, Upper School English faculty at Harpeth Hall School. The panel discussion drew a wide audience, including students, university and secondary teachers, directors, actors, scholars, and theater and Shakespeare enthusiasts. Theater and Dance Department Chair Paul Gatrell provided a tour of the Troutt Theater to the visiting scholars. The panel discussion was recorded for the project archives to be maintained at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.